STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1097

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 11

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 11, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE SHERIFF,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to plan for a potential separation of the Department of Public Safety (PSD) and the Sheriff Division by:

     (1)  Establishing a task force to initiate the planning process for the creation of a new Department of the Sheriff that would assume the duties and functions of the Sheriff Division of PSD; and

     (2)  Requiring the task force to report its findings and recommendations, including cost estimates to establish the new Department of the Sheriff to the Legislature.

     PSD, Hawaii Government Employees Association; AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and many concerned individuals supported this bill.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Requiring the task force to:

          (A)  Determine whether PSD is capable of supporting and maintaining the function of the Sheriff Division;

          (B)  Study the feasibility and essential need to create a new Department of the Sheriff that would assume the duties and functions of the Sheriff Division of PSD; and

          (C)  Create a plan for the establishment of a new department only if the task force determines that the new department is feasible, essential; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee notes that the task force should look at the possibility of creating a Sheriff Commission that would oversee issues related to the sheriffs.  The Honolulu Police Commission could be a model to follow, particularly as it pertains to the key role of hiring the head of the Sheriff Division, and having the hiring process removed from political influence.  In addition, it was strongly recommended that the task force's report include cost estimates to establish the new department.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 11, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 11, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair